Larry Eugene Wilson

It is with a heavy heart that the Wilson family announces the passing of Larry Eugene Wilson, age 91, of Mead, Oklahoma, on June 24, 2026. He passed away peacefully in his home with his wife Gayle by his side. Larry was born in McPherson, Kansas to Howard Louis Wilson and Vera Lorene Keefer Wilson on July 25, 1934. He graduated from Canton (Kansas) High School in 1952. He played football and basketball and served as the Captain of his senior basketball squad. In 1953, while the Korean War raged in Asia, Larry enlisted in the Marine Corp. He did his basic training at Camp Pendleton in San Diego and then went to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. He earned the National Defense Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. He was discharged in April of 1956. He was an Active member of the American Legion Post 11-11 (Broomfield, CO) and Post 119 (Estes Park, CO). After his military experience, Larry drove a truck in the Central Kansas area. He met Jo Nell Calico, of Cheney Kansas, and they got married in June of 1957. They moved to Colorado, joining other family members, and was trained as a carpenter by his brother-in-law, Mervin Rhoden. Larry and Jo had one daughter in 1960, Tracey, and were later divorced in 1980. During the 1960’s, Larry worked throughout the Denver, Boulder, and Broomfield areas for many of the major home builders of the time. In 1972, he moved the family to Broomfield to start his own company, building custom homes. In the early 1980’s. Larry worked for a bridge and roof sealing company, sealing bridges on the major mountain highways of Colorado. Larry met Gayle Batiste at the American Legion Post 11-11 and were married in 1990. In 1991. He and Gayle moved to Estes Park, CO where they both took jobs working at Rocky Mountain National Park for the Park Service. Larry worked as a carpenter and enjoyed restoring historical buildings out in the wilderness of the park. He retired in 1996 at the age of 62. Gayle continued to work for the Park Service and was transferred to Big Wood Thicket in Texas. They lived in Beaumont, Texas for the next 10 years, weathering several hurricanes. In 2008, The couple bought property in Mead, Oklahoma near Lake Texoma. Hurricane Ike rolled over Southern Texas sending Gayle to a remote work site and Larry to Oklahoma to start building their retirement home. That was the last home he built (finished in 2011), and he passed away there in his favorite spot, watching an old Western, in front to the TV. Larry was an avid fisherman. Every family vacation had to have water and fish involved. He really loved his fishing boats! Besides fishing, he was a keen poker player and loved to go to Choctaw Casino. He had a huge passion for model trains and was planning his ‘layout’ before he passed. He has a sizable collection of model trains and trucks. He also loved watching the Denver Broncos, Nuggets and Rockies. Larry is survived by his wife of 35 years, Gayle, His daughter Tracey Wilson Barlow (Jerry) of Broomfield, CO; step-son Joseph Batista (Jennifer) of Colorado Springs, CO; and Granddaughter Rae Ann Davis of Walla Walla, WA; Granddaughter Samantha Batista, Colorado Springs; Grandson Robert Batista, Colorado Springs; Grandson David Batista, Colorado Springs; Great Grandson Christian Stechman, Walla Walla, WA. He had many Nieces and Nephews. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Vera; Sisters. Exie Rhoden and Wynona Wilson: Borthers, Bob, Bill, Howard and Jerry. A celebration of life will be held in Broomfield, Colorado at a time and place yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, our family asks that you plant a tree...somewhere. So that we sustain our Earth and that more wood is available for a good carpenter to turn into a new home. Cremation services are under the direction of Brown’s Durant Funeral and Cremation Services.

Larry Eugene Wilson

July 25, 1934 - June 24, 2026